Day 4 in the investigation of UPS Flight 1354 reveals more about the mechanical condition the plane was in on the day it took flight.

According to NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt, data reveals that auto pilot and the throttle were engaged until the last second of the recordings.

However, Sumwalt says the flight data recorder stopped recording a few seconds before the cockpit voice recorder. Both indicated that there were descent warnings about five seconds before the cockpit recorder captured sounds of impact.

Sumalt also revealed that two surveillance videos have been obtained. The tapes are said to have captured the fire after the plane went down.

“In the coming weeks we anticipate we will do a flight test in a UPS A300, to see how this approach would be flown in that type of an aircraft and to learn more about UPS’ )s instrument approach procedures,” he adds.

The plane was recorded as approaching at a speed of 140 knots, a typical approach.

Preliminary findings also reveal there were no engine or other mechanical problems on the plane before it went down.

As part of their investigation the National Transportation and Safety Board will conduct a 3 day history of the pilots who were flying the plane to determine their mental and physical conditions at the time of the flight.

UPS employees who interacted with them leading up to the day they left Louisville Kentucky for Birmingham will be interviewed, including the van driver who transported them to the aircraft.

The FAA has yet complete all flight tests of the airports’ navigational aids due to weather, but precision approach path indicator lights were tested and found to be one one-hundredth of a degree out of alignment, said Sumwalt.

Checks of the airport’s navigational aids may be completed this week if permits.

On August 18th, the NTSB will bring a UPS A300-600 to the Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport, which in the coming days, will be used to test the approach risks and procedures for landing on the path flight 1354 was taking.